DALE PRUNTY LEADS A PRUNTY PARTY UNDER CHECKERED FLAG TO NET FIRST WIN IN KEITH’S MARINA 85

prunty with sponsorsBy Dan Margetta
Slinger, Wis., June 28— Dale Prunty scored his first career super late model feature victory Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway leading a Prunty party across the finish line with older brothers Dennis and David Prunty close behind in second and third place respectively.

“It’s been a long time coming as we’ve been going on three years now without a feature win,” Prunty told the large crowd. “Dennis (Prunty) ran me clean and we raced hard all night and David (Prunty)was right there too,” Prunty said describing the race with his brothers, “What can I say, I just raced ‘Mr Excitement’ (nickname for Dennis Prunty) and we didn’t spin out.”

“I tell you what, that’s the way I like to race,” Dennis Prunty said following his second place finish,” The faster guy won.” “I could hang with him (Dale) but I couldn’t hold him off,” Dennis Prunty continued. “I’d come into the turn a little sideways every so often and suddenly I looked in my mirror and he was right there.”

Al Graf Photo - car 5 super lates fast time“I just had no bite left at the end and I felt good for my little brothers in front of me,” David Prunty stated after finishing third. “Youngest to oldest we finished and it’s the first time ever (the brothers finished 1-2-3) and I just didn’t have anything for them.”

Dale Prunty and Al Schill led the field to the green flag as Schill used the outside lane to snag the early lead over Dale Prunty, Dennis Prunty, and Collin Bamke. David Prunty, Travis Dassow, Conrad Morgan, Lowell Bennett, and Jeremy Lepak all scrambled for position just behind the top four in a tight pack. Dale Prunty took to the outside on lap nine and was able to work his way around Schill for the lead while Dassow and David Prunty entered the top five. The top groove worked the best in the early going and with Schill caught on the bottom, Dennis Prunty was able to race by for second place just before the first caution flag waved on lap 14 for a minor tangle between Steve Apel and Jamie Wallace in turn one.

Al Graf Photo - car 92 dassow fast timeDale Prunty chose the outside lane for the restart and with Dennis Prunty lined up inside, the two brothers battled door to door for the lead until Dennis prevailed two laps later. Dassow, Schill, and David Prunty raced fiercely for the third spot while the two leaders opened up some distance on the rest of the field. Dale Prunty was able to edge to the inside of Dennis on lap 26 to retake the top spot while Dassow and David Prunty settled into third and fourth place as Jeremy Lepak advanced to the fifth slot. Dennis and Dale Prunty swapped the lead over the next several laps while David Prunty moved into third place, bringing Lepak with him into fourth as the yellow flag flew for a second time when Dassow’s car spun exiting turn four and was collected by Schill.

car 21 travis dassow dash winnerDale and Dennis Prunty picked up right where they left off with their battle for the top spot as racing resumed, while Lepak worked the high side to land in third place ahead of David Prunty, Collin Bamke, and Lowell Bennett. Dale Prunty turned back the challenges of his brother and settled into a comfortable lead while Lepak pressured Dennis Prunty for second, taking the position on lap 49. The top positions stabilized for the following ten laps until leader Dale Prunty caught lapped traffic, allowing Lepak and Dennis Prunty to close in. Steve Apel’s trip through the frontstretch grass drew the caution flag on lap 70 with Dale Prunty leading over Lepak, Dennis Prunty, David Prunty, and Conrad Morgan, who was the car on the move prior to the caution flag, gaining four positions to enter the top five. With Dale Prunty choosing the inside and Lepak taking the outside, the cat and mouse game between the two on the restart produced an aborted start and on the second try, hesitation on the high side produced an accordion-like effect which littered the front straightaway with damaged race cars as the yellow flew again.

prunty with sponsorsWhen the dust settled, the cars of Lepak, Morgan, Bamke, Schill, Mike Meyerhofer, and Scott Schoeni were among those that were unable to continue. As racing resumed, the Prunty brothers staged the fifteen lap shootout to decide the event with Dennis Prunty grabbing the initial lead over Dale and David. Dale Prunty’s car was hooked up off the corners on the inside and he wheeled his way back into the lead on lap 76 while behind the top three, Jamie Wallace and John Zimmerman battled over the fourth spot. Once out front, Dale Prunty could not be caught and he drove under the checkered flags to score his first career super late model feature win ahead of older brothers Dennis and David Prunty. Jamie Wallace finished fourth and Randy Schuler was fifth. Lowell Bennett and John Zimmermean were sixth and seventh respectively, the final cars running without significant damage.

Race McComb won the 25-lap super late model semi-feature over Scott Schoeni and Mike Egan. Ron Ragan and Cardell Potter rounded out the top five. Travis Dassow took top honors in the super late model fast dash and Eric Fransen was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 11.492 seconds.

Pat McIntee turned back all challenges to score the win in the 35-lap late model feature.

slinger bees feature car #84 flips on backstrechSteve Schulz led the opening two laps before McIntee worked the inside to take the point on lap three while behind the top two Chris Blawat, Trevor Dassow, and Jake Vanoskey lined up in the third through fifth spots. McIntee continued to show the way when the race was red flagged on lap seven for a serious looking incident between Rob Braun and Rob Myers in turn four. The cars of Braun and Myers became hooked together exiting turn four, turning right and plastering the turn four wall head on resulting in major damage to both machines. After a few intense moments, both drivers were able to emerge from their cars without serious injuries. McIntee paced the first two laps as the race went green before Schulz used the upper lane to wrestle the top spot away briefly on lap nine. McIntee remained tough on the inside however and he quickly retook the lead a lap later as Schulz became trapped in the high groove, losing positions to both Blawat and Dassow. Jake Vanoskey also worked his way by Schulz and Dave McCardle did as well to move into the top five before Schulz exited the speedway on lap 20. Blawat made several challenges for the lead, but McIntee proved to be too strong exiting the turns and he drove to the victory. Blawat finished a close second while Dassow crossed the finish line in third. McCardle was able to advance to fourth place at the finish while Vanoskey rounded out the top five. Earlier, Steve Schulz was the winner of the late model fast dash and Trevor Dassow set fast time at 12. 356 seconds.

Mike Borchardt Jr. charged to his third feature victory of the season in the 35-lap Midwest Sportsman main event.

#42 dennis prunty trys to hold off brother daleAustin Luedtke and Dan Church raced hard for the early lead until lap six when Luedtke’s car looped in turn one and was collected by the car of Mark Kissinger, producing the caution flag. Jay Shambeau led on the restart over Tom Elsinger and Gregg Pawelski while Bobby Giers held fourth place over Borchardt in fifth. Pawelski raced into second place on lap nine and Borchardt followed, taking the third position on lap ten while Shambeau continued to lead. Dave Thomas also entered the fray, taking fourth from Giers a lap later while Borchardt began to track down Pawelski for second. Borchardt was able to race into second place on lap 14 with Thomas right behind him to take third as Shambeau maintained the lead. Borchardt was able to work his way past Shambeau and into the lead on lap 17 while Thomas battled Giers and Pawelski for the third position. Giers took the third spot on lap 19 and a lap later, drove around Shambeau for second as Borchardt led. There was no catching Borchardt in the final laps and he took the checkered flag for the win ahead of Giers and Shambeau. Brian Holtz made a late charge to finish fourth while Pawelski rounded out the top five, just ahead of Thomas in sixth. Earlier, Pawelski was the winner of the Midwest Sportsman fast dash and Thomas was the fastest qualifier at 12.760 seconds.

Aaron Cain was back in victory lane for the fourth time this season in the 20-lap Thunderstock feature.

Andy Welter and Rick Schaefer led the field to the green flag and Welter lead the opening laps as Jerry Kulas, Jr. moved into second place ahead of Schaefer, Stephanie Losiniecki and Cain. Cain began his charge through the field, moving to fourth place by lap six and then all the way to second place two laps later. Cain took the lead on lap ten while Kulas grabbed second from Welter just before the caution appeared when a wheel came loose from Schaefer’s car. Cain maintained the lead on the restart over Kulas while Losiniecki raced with Eric Lingford for third. Cain could not be headed and he drove to his fourth feature win of the season while Kulas crossed the line in second place, just ahead of Losiniecki in third. Eric Lingford and Ken Schraufnagel rounded out the top five. Earlier, Kulas was the winner of the Thunderstock fast dash and Cain set fast time at 13.500 seconds.

Sam Haven won the 25-lap Wisconsin Sport Truck feature over Jeff Looker and Dan Vixmer. Regan May and Jacob Bolding were fourth and fifth place respectively. Looker also won the Wisconsin Sport Truck fast dash and Haven was the fastest qualifier at 13.556 seconds.

Alex Prunty won the 16-lap Slinger Bees feature over Carl Benn and Brandon Tackes. Erik Long and Mike Lang were fourth and fifth respectively. Mark Sontag , Jr. won the 16-lap Slinger Bees semi-feature, taking the checkered flag ahead of Brandon Schwai and Katie DeStefano. Brandon Gumm finished fourth and Jeff Wolfe was fifth. The event got off to a rough start when Nate Strobel’s car rolled several times on the backstretch on the opening lap. Strobel escaped the incident without serious injuries. Erik Long was the Slinger Bees fastest qualifier with a lap of 15.790 seconds.

Joe Ortenbach was the winner of the Speedway Guest Car event while Steven Schulz won the Spectator Eliminator races in his Pontiac GTO. Willie Van Camp closed the evening which included a massive fireworks display, with a victory in the Figure 8 event.